The first sekku after a baby was born is called hatsu-sekku. This 5th of May
is this day for a baby boy and officially calld Tango no sekku. This is an old
event celebrated since the Nara period(710-794).
Decorations of gogatsu ningyo can be riughly divided into two types:enternal
decorations（koinobori,carp streamers,and mushaenoborisamurai flags and banners）
and internal decoration（yoroi and kabuto decoration as well as kodomo taisho,
a child's general decoration）.Essentially,the koinobori which are a wish for success
in life and the internal decorations which are the hope for the children's sound
growth have diffrent meanings,so it is desirable to set both out.However,dependeng
on the locality,some mainly use koinobori and internal decorations are just
a matter of form ,and other areas mainly use internal decorations and have some small
koinobori.
2.Why yoroi and kabuto are set out ?
In the long history of samurai society,yoroi（armor）and kabuto（helmet）are very
important.
As they have an important function to protect the body ,at present yoroi
and kabuto are set out to respect this spirit.
The famliy celebrates a boy's birth and wishes for for sound growth to become
a strong and excellent man. In other words ,protected by yoroi and kabuto ,
the famliy protecs against a disaster and gives blessing in life,such as success
in entrance examinations,finding a good job and getting married.
3.What is the origin of koinobori ?
Carp have a very strong power for life ,not only in clear water but also ponds and
swamps. The old Chinese tradition says that the carp climbing up the rapid current
and rising in a waterfall named Dragon's Gate turned into a dragon going to heaven
(this story is the origin of toryumon meaning gateway to success).
Therefore koinobori are decorations wishing for the success in life of a child to
be able to whithstand any kind of environment and become an excellent person.
There is another theory that when a boy was born,the famliy displayed the koinobori
as the symbol to let the Gots know about the childbirth in order for the Gots to
protect him.
1.What is Tango no sekku ?
The first sekku after a baby was born is called hatsu-sekku. This 5th of May
is this day for a baby boy and officially calld Tango no sekku. This is an old
event celebrated since the Nara period(710-794).
Decorations of gogatsu ningyo can be riughly divided into two types:enternal
decorations（koinobori,carp streamers,and mushaenoborisamurai flags and banners）
and internal decoration（yoroi and kabuto decoration as well as kodomo taisho,
a child's general decoration）.Essentially,the koinobori which are a wish for success
in life and the internal decorations which are the hope for the children's sound
growth have diffrent meanings,so it is desirable to set both out.However,dependeng
on the locality,some mainly use koinobori and internal decorations are just
a matter of form ,and other areas mainly use internal decorations and have some small
koinobori.
In the long history of samurai society,yoroi（armor）and kabuto（helmet）are very
important. 
Carp have a very strong power for life ,not only in clear water but also ponds and
swamps. The old Chinese tradition says that the carp climbing up the rapid current
and rising in a waterfall named Dragon's Gate turned into a dragon going to heaven
(this story is the origin of toryumon meaning gateway to success).
Therefore koinobori are decorations wishing for the success in life of a child to
be able to whithstand any kind of environment and become an excellent person.
There is another theory that when a boy was born,the famliy displayed the koinobori
as the symbol to let the Gots know about the childbirth in order for the Gots to
protect him.